Bacula-users

Re: [Bacula-users] "status jobs" shows odd sizes

2009-04-09 16:37:40
Subject: Re: [Bacula-users] "status jobs" shows odd sizes
From: Kevin Keane <subscription AT kkeane DOT com>
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 13:33:29 -0700
Keith Edmunds wrote:
> We're seeing some odd sizes reported for incremental backups. A 'status
> jobs' shows, firstly, for a full backup:
>
>    338  Full   19,796,396    2.916 T  OK       06-Apr-09 04:07 Client1
>
> That looks right: nearly 20 million files and nearly 3Tb.
>
> Now an incremental:
>
>    340  Incr      1,085    1.313 T  OK       07-Apr-09 13:10 Client1
>
> Just over a thousand files (believable) but 1.3Tb of data (not
> believable). That would suggest an average file size of over a gigabyte
> whereas the full back suggests an average file size of around 150K, which
> is much more believable.
I think you are making a problematic assumption here - namely that the 
the files backed up in the incremental represent a representative sample 
of the files overall. In reality, by nature the files in an incremental 
backup are very different from the files in a full backup. For instance, 
you will almost never see the (relatively small) files in /usr/bin 
backed up in an incremental. On the other hand, maybe one of the 1085 
files in the incremental is a 1 TB database that is accessed daily? Or 
some other large file that is in regular use.

The only way to find out whether or not this is legitimate is to 
actually query bacula for the list of files in the job.
> Quite apart from anything else, it's unlikely that 1.3Tb would even fit on an 
> AIT5 tape.
>   
I don't see a problem here. As long as the data very is compressible, it 
could fit quite comfortably. It actually supports my suspicion that it 
may be a single large database file; database files can often be 
compressed to as little as a few percent of their original size, because 
they are often sparse files.

-- 
Kevin Keane
Owner
The NetTech
Find the Uncommon: Expert Solutions for a Network You Never Have to Think About

Office: 866-642-7116
http://www.4nettech.com

This e-mail and attachments, if any, may contain confidential and/or 
proprietary information. Please be advised that the unauthorized use or 
disclosure of the information is strictly prohibited. The information herein is 
intended only for use by the intended recipient(s) named above. If you have 
received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and 
permanently delete the e-mail and any copies, printouts or attachments thereof.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This SF.net email is sponsored by:
High Quality Requirements in a Collaborative Environment.
Download a free trial of Rational Requirements Composer Now!
http://p.sf.net/sfu/www-ibm-com
_______________________________________________
Bacula-users mailing list
Bacula-users AT lists.sourceforge DOT net
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bacula-users

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>